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Norris Apologizes to Colapinto After Azerbaijan Crash
Confirmed
In Short: Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris has apologized to Franco Colapinto for his post-race comments following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix collision.
In the immediate aftermath of the race, Norris suggested that Colapinto did not deserve his place in Formula 1 and should be benched for a race.
However, Norris later posted on his Instagram account, admitting his criticism went too far and that emotions got the better of him.
Norris wrote, 'Me and Franco came to a good understanding, are still good friends and are both excited to get back racing this weekend.
Colapinto was issued a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming race in Malaysia, and immediately apologized, accepting responsibility for the crash.
The incident occurred during a restart after a safety car period, where Colapinto locked up at the first corner, hitting his teammate Pierre Gasly, who then crashed into Norris.
Colapinto had already accepted responsibility for the crash, saying he lost control after locking his tires and brakes while they were cold.
Alpine's team boss Flavio Briatore described Colapinto's move as 'a very poor move.
The Alpine team issued a statement condemning the social media abuse directed at Colapinto, the fourth such statement since he stepped up to a race seat in 2025.
Social media users, largely on Norris' accounts, posted comments in support of Colapinto, including images and GIFs from Argentina's Foreign Affairs Minister Pablo Quirno and footballer Sergio Aguero.
The FIA converted Colapinto's 10-second penalty into a five-place grid drop, which he will serve at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia this weekend.
Norris' apology comes after widespread social media comments and Alpine's condemnation of the abuse, highlighting the importance of sportsmanship and respect in the Formula 1 community.
What's confirmed
- In the immediate aftermath of the race, Norris suggested that Colapinto did not deserve his place in Formula 1 and should be benched for a race.
- However, Norris later posted on his Instagram account, admitting his criticism went too far and that emotions got the better of him.
- Norris wrote, 'Me and Franco came to a good understanding, are still good friends and are both excited to get back racing this weekend.
- Colapinto was issued a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming race in Malaysia, and immediately apologized, accepting responsibility for the crash.
- The incident occurred during a restart after a safety car period, where Colapinto locked up at the first corner, hitting his teammate Pierre Gasly, who then crashed into Norris.
- Colapinto had already accepted responsibility for the crash, saying he lost control after locking his tires and brakes while they were cold.
- Alpine's team boss Flavio Briatore described Colapinto's move as 'a very poor move.
- The Alpine team issued a statement condemning the social media abuse directed at Colapinto, the fourth such statement since he stepped up to a race seat in 2025.
- Social media users, largely on Norris' accounts, posted comments in support of Colapinto, including images and GIFs from Argentina's Foreign Affairs Minister Pablo Quirno and footballer Sergio Aguero.
- The FIA converted Colapinto's 10-second penalty into a five-place grid drop, which he will serve at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia this weekend.
- Norris' apology comes after widespread social media comments and Alpine's condemnation of the abuse, highlighting the importance of sportsmanship and respect in the Formula 1 community.
What's still developing
- U.K.-based Phillip Horton started covering Grands Prix while still at university and swiftly deemed that writing about Formula 1 and the behind-the-scenes machinations was much more engaging than reading centuries-old novels.
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- Follow GP Fans F1 world champion Lando Norris has issued an apology after calling for a rival driver to be banned by the FIA.
- After the race, a fuming Norris called on F1's governing body the FIA to take stricter action, even calling for the Argentine racer to be banned.
- Romain Grosjean triggered an incident at the start of the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix after squeezing Lewis Hamilton into a wall at turn one, which then saw the Frenchman crash into Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso, with Pastor Maldonado and Kamui Kobayashi suffering damage too courtesy of a helpless Hamilton.
- Norris was outspoken following Saturday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix where he was forced to retire after being involved in a collision at a restart following a safety car.
- However, the McLaren star was not at fault, with Franco Colapinto outbreaking himself into turn one on cold tyres, causing him to lock up which then saw him crash into his Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly, who could then do nothing but crash into Norris, causing all three cars to retire.
- Grosjean was fined €50,000 and given a one-race ban at the following race at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix.
- The world champion has now withdrawn that judgment after contacting Colapinto privately.